“Small commitments can lead to big changes.” – James Clear
How often have you made a small commitment to something, only to find yourself feeling obligated to follow through with larger commitments later? This is the principle of commitment and consistency at work.
The principle of commitment and consistency states that people like to be consistent in their beliefs and actions. If you can get someone to commit to something, even if it’s small, they are more likely to follow through with larger commitments later.
In business, this can be applied by encouraging customers to make small commitments, such as signing up for a newsletter or following your brand on social media. Once they’ve made this initial commitment, they’re more likely to make larger commitments, like making a purchase or recommending your brand to others.
Consider the story of the “foot-in-the-door” technique. In a famous study, researchers found that homeowners who agreed to display a small sign in their yard were significantly more likely to later agree to display a much larger, more intrusive sign. This demonstrates the power of small commitments leading to larger actions.
So, what can you do to harness the power of commitment and consistency in your business? Start by encouraging your customers to make small, manageable commitments to your brand. This could be as simple as asking them to follow your social media accounts or sign up for your email newsletter.
To discover more about the power of commitment and consistency, and other proven persuasion techniques, consider exploring my book pick of the week “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion.“